A Globalization Phenomenon … More about Iceland

Once again, Iceland finds itself beset with the familiar problems that have resulted from being a part of an international organizational structure intent on denying others their sovereign rights. Although Iceland has begun the process to resume lethal scientific research whaling on minke whales in its own waters, (an ICRW- normal activity), 23 members of the Like Minded Group are demonstrating another tiresome threat. A "group demarche" has been issued that demands Iceland desist from all research whaling, hinting that Iceland's tourist industry could be badly affected. In other words, comply with these powerful nations' demands, or they may adversely affect your tourism through giving their citizens information that shall discourage them from visiting Iceland.

Flashback: In 1986, and in years prior to that time, Iceland was conducting scientific research whaling in its own waters, taking fin whales. The animals were processed in stages that allowed scientific investigation of their diet, parasite load, blubber thickness, overall health, size, approximate age, state of fertility, and degree of contaminant load. This thorough examination was conducted on an open landing at the research station, in full view of an upper deck area especially prepared for tourists. Visitors to Iceland were delighted to stand by a railing where they could see the entire process. There were no protests, organized or otherwise. IWMC predicts that a large number of people will continue to be intensely interested in this process, and with the proper security, the Icelanders could use the opportunity to conduct valuable public education once again, at their whaling stations anywhere on the coast. This would be a good thing, and a very empowering one for Iceland. At the same time, Iceland's whale watch tours and whale cuisine restaurants shall continue to do a flourishing business, despite dire green predictions to the contrary.

The International Whaling Commission has become an organization whose increasingly slim majority has decided that top-down decisions on member activities are the only way with which to retain power. Retention of the power to deny Parties their right to conduct their legal activities under the Convention is now a major goal, in contrast to the original goals of the Convention, which are the pursuit of conservation of whales through science, and the resultant benefits to the whaling industry from that research.

The power-to-deny-use movement is a historically new pattern that has intensified in the last twenty years, until now the IWC (and increasingly, CITES) are international bodies whose members appear more interested in denying user nations their rights than in conducting scientific research that would answer questions of degree or fact of use on an on-going basis. The structure of the IWC differs from that of NAMMCO, which in contrast, consists only of nations in the North Atlantic region, concentrates heavily on scientific research on marine mammals, while its members are not threatened politically at home by the domestic politics of environmentalist NGOs.

IWMC applauds Iceland, and encourages its leaders to stand firm on Iceland's right to conduct scientific research whaling, and to take the next steps only when this is appropriate from a perspective of sustainable use and ecological balance in their own marine ecosystem. Each nation has this inalienable right to conduct its business for the good of its people and their environment. The top-down-rule pattern of global organizations has evolved from a culture of reasonable and respectful Parties to one concerned with matters other than international conservation issues. Life, scientific research and eventually, business, must return to the original goals and ideals set out by the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.